The eighth round of IA-CEPA negotiations was hosted by Australia in Canberra from 31 July – 4 August 2017. This was the sixth round of negotiations since IA-CEPA's reactivation by Ministers in March 2016.
The Australian delegation was led by DFAT and included representatives of the Departments of: Agriculture and Water Resources, Attorney General, Education and Training, Employment, Health, Immigration and Border Protection, Industry Innovation and Science, Treasury and Standards Australia.
The Indonesian delegation was led by the Ministry of Trade and included representatives from a number of Ministries and Agencies including: Agriculture, Bank of Indonesia, Communication and Informatics (KOMINFO), Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy and Mineral Resources, Finance, Financial Services Authority (OJK), Foreign Affairs, Health, Industry, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), National Body for Indonesian Labor Placement and Protection (BNP2TKI), National Planning Development (BAPPENAS), National Standardization Agency (BSN), Manpower and Transmigration, and Transportation.
Australia and Indonesia exchanged revised market access offers for goods and investment. Dedicated negotiating groups progressed detailed discussions on goods (including non-tariff measures), services, investment, economic cooperation, electronic-commerce, competition policy and institutional and framework provisions. Some negotiating groups agreed to meet intersessionally to progress discussions ahead of the next round, scheduled for October. Chief Negotiators from Australia and Indonesia reaffirmed both parties' commitment to conclude negotiations before the end of 2017.
The ninth round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Indonesia in October 2017.
DFAT hosted the first Australia-Indonesia Business Forum in the margins of the negotiations. Australian and Indonesian business leaders from diverse sectors such as vocational education, manufacturing, agriculture, e-commerce and investment provided valuable input to negotiators on their ambitions for trade and investment under the agreement.